Drilling apparatus



May 21, 1935- c. E. BANNISTER DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed May 1, 19:51

2 Sheets-Sheet l moz-:aeg

May 2l, 1935. c. BANNISTER DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed May l, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,fir

,Zzz vena Patented May 2l, 1935 UNITED STATES naiLLING APPARATUS Clyde E. Bannister, Akron, Ohio Application May 1, 1931, Serial No. 534,322 Renewed November 9, 1933 9 Claims.

My present invention relates to drilling apparatus, and4 more particularly to a novel and improved apparatus primarily designed for the drilling of vertic'al wells or bores such as oil wells.

An important object of the present invention resides in the combining, with a rigid non-rotating drill stem, of a boring tool, means for operating said boring tool, and a support for said operating means.

A further object of my invention resides in so constructing said combined apparatus that the support, the tool, and the meansfor operating said tool will al1 be tiltable relatively to the rigid non-rotating drill stem, the said support being flexibly suspended from said rigid drill stem, in order to accomplish this desirable result.

It is a well known fact, in the oil well drilling industry, that the ideal bore or well is the one which most nearly approaches vertlcality. In prior methods of drilling, as the`cutting tools `or bits have worked downwardly through the bore which was being formed thereby, there has been a tendency for said tools to craw or in other words, to deviate from a perpendicular descent and form inclined or crooked holes or bores. This has resulted in many cases in serious prop-A erty damage, destruction of bores, and abandonment of one or more bores, should one bore cross another during its descent. This has resulted in considerable expense coupled with many other disadvantages. Furthermore, in prior drilling apparatus, should an obstruction such as a boulde r be encountered during the descent of the cutting tools, and should the said cutting tools be deflected by the said obstruction, the tendency is for the tool or device to increase said deflection or crawl, rather than`to attempt to return to its normal position.

A further and important object of my present 0 invention, therefore, is the provision of drilling apparatus which will automatically insure a substantially vertical descent of the cutting tools, by reducing the tendency to crawl, as well as having an inherent tendency, after a possible deilection,

, to return to normal vertical cutting position.

'Ihe many advantages incident to the straight drilling produced by my novel apparatus will be instantly apparent to and appreciated by those skilled in this art.

In the drawings of the present application Iv have illustrated a rigid, non-rotating drill stem,

so arranged that the support for the tool operating means will hang freely from and be tiltable relatively to said drill stem. 'I'his desirable result is accomplished by utilizing the novel ball and socket (o1. ass-4) joint structure illustrated. Furthermore, I preferably interpose between the ball and socket joint and the cutting tool a heavy inertia barrel of considerable weight. The flexible suspension of said inertia barrel or support will thus result in 5 the said support having an inherent tendency to hang straight, because of its weight, or in other words, to function in a manner similar to a plumb bob, at the same time conveying this important characteristic or tendency to the cutting tool or l0 boring bit itself.

In the present application I have illustrated a iluid pressure motor within the flexibly suspended support, .as the means for operating the cutting tool, but it will be appreciated that this is for illustrative purposes only, andthat I am not limited thereto, it being within the range and scope ,of my present invention to utilize any tool operating means which can properly be adapted for use in combination with a rigid non-rotating l drill stem or support.

Other features and objects of my invention reside in the particular details of construction of various portions of my apparatus.

The above and other objects of the invention, details of construction, combinations of parts, and advantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a pre.- ferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel apparatus positioned in a bore which is being formed thereby;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the support and machine utilized;

Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 7:

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the valve sleeve holding and actuating means; v Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings for a particular description of the invention, its construction and operation, I designates a tubular shell or casing, and 2 designates a yreduced and tapered upper end portion formed with a bearing I and ports 4 4.

Extending and fitting through the bearing 3 is a long tubular nipple or slip-sleeve 5 having an the internally threaded portion II of the stem I2` depending from the socket member I3. 'Ihis sockel; member I3 is adapted to have seated therein -a ball member I4, and after said ball is seated`\therein, a split ring I is applied, the halves of said ring seating over the top of the socket member I3, and being secured thereto by vbolts I6, as clearly illustrated. The ball member I4 has an upwardly extending internally threaded sleeve I1, adapted to be threaded onto the xternally threaded end of a stem section 10, here being any desired number of these stem sections 10, two thereof being illustrated in Fig. l, united by a suitable coupling 1I. An annular cap 12 is ailixed to the sleeve Il by bolts 13 or the like, and is ared to extend over the ring sections I5, this cap having a snug iit over said ring sections to prevent the admission of sand, mud, or other foreign matter into theball and socket joint.

Because of the ball and socket connection illustrated the nipple or sleeve 5 will be flexibly suspended from the stem 10, and consequently said nipple and all parts supported or carried thereby will be freely tiltable relatively to said stem 19. The stem has a longitudinal bore 14 therethrough, through which duid under pressure may be forced, and supplied to the pressure motor as hereafter described.

Fixed in the casing I is an inner casing or cylinder |8, having vertical inlet channels I9 and vertical discharge or exhaust channels 20. The inlet channels I9 have upper and lower inlet ports 2l and 22 respectively, leadingto the interior of the inner casing I8, and the discharge or exhaust channels have upper and lower discharge ports 23 and 24 respectively, leading from the interior of the casing I8.

The upper ends of the inlet channels i9 are open, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, but their lower ends are closed, and the lower ends of the discharge channels are open, but their upper ends are closed as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

Slidably fitted within the cylinder I8 are the annular valves or sleeves 25 and 25, projecting from which are radial pins 21 and 28 respectively, which work or slide through thevertical slots 29 and 38 respectively. The pins 21 and 28 are connected by valve connecting rods 3| which work in the rod bearings 32 in order that the valves 25 and 26 may be synchronized in their movement. The ports 2I and 24 are so arranged that when one series of inlet ports is opened by their valve the series of discharge or exhaust ports at the same end of the cylinder will be closed by the said valve and tlereverse will be true of the corresponding series of inlet and discharge ports at the opposite end of the cylinder.

Also, when one series of discharge ports is opened by their valve, the inlet ports at the same end of the cylinder will be closed, and the reverse will be true of the inlet and discharge ports at the other end of the cylinder. The upper and lower ends of the cylinder I8 have the respective plugs 33 and 34 threaded therein or otherwise at` tached thereto. sions or prongs 35 extending downwardly therefrom, and the valve 26 has similar valve extensions or-prongs 31 extending upwardly therefrom.

Splined within the cylinder I8 between said valves is a hollow -piston 38, having a liner 39 therein and provided with the end stuiling boxes 4l) 'and 4I forming bearings on the shaft 42. This shaft 42 is mounted in bearings in the plugs 33 and 34 and extends beneath the latter, said extended end being connected by nut 46 and washer 41 to the chuck or drill collar 48. The upper end of this chuck within the casing I is provided with inlet ports 49, and said chuck works between the bearing rings 58 and 5I, and has an annular rib 52 which runs between the bearings 53 and 54, retained by said bearing rings, said rings being threaded into the lower end of the casing I, as

clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The bit 55 is conl.

nected to the lower end of this chuck 48 in any desired manner, and extending through the bit 55 are channels 56. AnyA suitable type of drill, bit or cutting tool may be employed, the type, of course, depending upon the character of the formation being bored or drilled, said bit being preferably constructed and arranged to effect an l equal cutting action in either direction of oscillation. The splining of the piston in the inner casing I9 is effected by keys 51, which keys cooperate with vertical keyvvays or grooves 56 in the piston 39.

The upper end of the shaft 42 has a bore or channel 59 which discharges into the interior of the piston 38 through inclined channels 69, and alined above said bore the plug 33 has a bore 6I, normally closed by the plug 62 and through which plugged bore the piston may be supplied with lubricant which normally fills the same.

The operation of my novel apparatus, as thus far described, is simple and will be readily understood by those skilled in this art. Fluid, preferably water, is forced downwardly through the hollow stem section 10 and nipple 5 into the casing or shell I, and enters, through the channels I9, the upper and lower inlet ports 2| and 22 alternately. When uid enters the inlet ports 2i, the piston 36 will be forced downwardly and its lower end will strike the valve extensions .31 on the valve 26 and move both valves downwardly, meanwhile, in its downward passage, forcing the The valve 25 has valve exten-` water in the casing I8 beneath said piston out through the ports 24 which are open during the downward passage of the piston. As the valves move downwardly the valve 26 will close the discharge ports 24 and open the inlet ports 22, and the valve 25 will open the discharge ports 23 and close the inlet ports 2|. Fluid under pressure will then be admitted through the inlet ports 22, beneath the piston, and will raise said piston, and

the water in the casing I 8, above the piston, will be discharged through the ports 23 and when the piston strikes the valve extensions 35 of the valve 25, the valves will be moved upwardly to open the upper inlet ports and close thelower ones and to close the upper discharge ports and open the lower ones. This operation will be repeated and continued until the fluid pressure is shut off. The discharged water passes from the casing or cylinder I8 down and through the ports 49 into the interior of the chuck and thence through the channels 56 in the bit 55, and thence to the bottom of the bore to flush ythe cuttings from the bit at the bottom of said bore.

As the piston 38 reciprocates up and down,

these vertical reciprocations will be converted into oscillations of the shaft 42 through the medium of rollers 44 in the spiral bearing grooves 43, and the bit or drilling tool will thus also be oscillated, and will gradually break away the formation against which it operates at the bottom i of the bore. The rollers 44 are carried on the ends of a pin 45 extending transversely of the shaft 42 and xed therein.

The distance of each oscillation of the bit 55 will, of course, be determined by the extent of the spiral grooves 43, and the stroke of the piston, and the speed of oscillation of the bit will be fixed and determined by the speed of operation of the piston 38. It will be readily understood that the inertia of the machine will restrain the machine itself from any material turning sufiicient to eventually allow the abrading tool or bit to remain stationary. If the bit or abrading tool utilized were subjected to a continuous rotating action, the machine would, of course, gradually develop a rotating action in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the bit and this would necessarily result in the stoppage of the bit.

By utilizing a rigid non-rotating stem, great weights may be carried thereby at considerable depths, without the likelihood of breakage which would be present if a rotating drill stem were utilized. Also, by utilizing a non-rotating rigid stem, considerable expense is saved in the suface equipment, by eliminating the necessary machinery and apparatus heretofore required to rotate a rigid drill stem. The advantages of this feature will be instantly apparent to those skilled in this art. Furthermore, a non-rotating drill stem will enable the boring of a much deeper well than is possible with a rotating drill stem, as the non-rotating drill stem, not being required to bear torsional strains, may be made much lighter in weight per foot.

The apparatus may be withdrawn from the bor by means of the stem sections 10 and in withdrawing the apparatus the spring 1 will carry the load and be compressed, thus bringing the ports 9 into register with the ports 4. Should the apparatus become stuck in the bore, by a cave-in or otherwise, the water may be pumped down through the sections 10 and nipple 5 and out through the ports 9 and 4 to flush out and Wash away the surrounding material and thus free the apparatus so'that it may be freely withdrawn from the bore.

If desired, the spring 1 may be of sufficient strength to remain inoperative unless and until an obstruction is encountered in withdrawing an apparatus from the bore, whereupon on meeting with resistance, the spring will function to allow the ports 9 and 4 to be put in register and permit the flushing operation above described.

In order to accelerate the action of the valves 25 and 26 I may surround the shaft 42, at each end of the piston 38, with a coiled spring 15 resting at one end on the stuffing box 40 and at the other end against a ring or collar 16 formed in the valve 25 and also surrounding the shaft 42. This spring structure will be the same at each side or end of the piston and therefore one only need be described. I also provide recesses 11 in each valve to receive balls 18 held in position by springs 19 and set screws or plugs 80. The arrangement of recesses, balls, plugs and springs is similar in each of the valves 25 and 26.

Thus the piston, in its travel, compresses the spring 15, which, however, when fully compressed,

preferably has not quite enough energy to move the valve, which is held in place by the balls 18 and springs 19. The piston, continuing along its stroke, finally strikes the valve extensions and dislodges the balls. Unless the balls are dislodged, the spring 15 will snap the valve across the ports which are to be closed, giving a quick and positive action. y

In the meantime the valve rods 3l are pulling the valve on the opposite end into the position where the balls will fall into place in the recesses in the valve. On the return stroke of the piston the pent-up energy of the spring will assist in starting the piston in the opposite direction, this action being the same regardless of the direction of movement ofthe piston.

Should an obstruction be encountered by the bit 55 in its descent, and deiiect it from its normal vertical path, the ball and socket joint will permit the weighted machine to again seek a vertical descent, the device thus having a constant inherent tendency to descend vertically.

I believe that the apparatus disclosed and described in this application is novel, and I have therefore claimed the same broadly herein.

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreci-l ated that I may vary the size, shape, and arrangement of parts within reasonably wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be appreciated that while I have illustrated and described the fluid motor which is the subject matter of my co-pending application Ser. No. 347,039, I may utilize any tool operating mechanism, motor, or the like, which is capable of use in the combination herein described.

My invention is further defined and described in the form-of claims as follows:

1. Well drilling apparatus comprising a rigid non-rotating drill stem, a fluid pressure motorv suspended therefrom for universal movement relative thereto, a boring tool operable by said fluid pressure motor, and a barrel enclosing said motor, the mass of said barrel with respect to said motor and said boring tool being such that said fluid pressure motor will effect operation of said boring tool independently of movement of said barrel.

2. Well drilling apparatus comprising a rigid non-rotating drill stem, a fluid pressure motor suspended therefrom for universal movement relative thereto, a boring tool operable by said fluid pressure motor, and a barrel enclosing said motor, the mass of said barrel with respect to said motor and said boring tool being such that said fluid pressure motor will effect operation of said boring tool independently of movement of said drill stem or said barrel.

3. Well drilling apparatus comprising a rigid non-rotating stem, boring tool operating means, a support for said operating means, a ball member carried by the lower end of said stem, a socket member carried by the upper end of said support and adapted to receive said ball, whereby said support will be suspended from said stem with capacity for universal movement, and a substantially semi-spherical protecting cap xed to said ball member and overlapping a portion of said socket member.

4. Drilling apparatus comprising substantially rigid suspension means adapted to be lowered in a. well, an elongated weight structure having universal-joint connection to said suspension means, a rotative bit having connection to said suspension means and directionally controlled by the said weight structure acting in the manner of a plumb-bob, and power means interposed operatively between the weight structure and the bit for driving the latter.

5. Drilling apparatus comprising substantially rigid suspension means adapted to be lowered in a well, an elongated weight structure having universal-joint connection to said suspension means, a rotative bit having connection to said suspension means and directionally controlled by the said weight structure acting in the manner of a plumb-bob, a pressure fluid motor interposed operatively between the weight structure and the bit for driving'the latter, means for supplying pressure fluid to said motor from the top of the well, and means for causing the uid on occasion to flow into the lower portion of the well without passing through the motor.

6. Drilling apparatus comprising substantially rigid suspension means adapted to be lowered in a well, an elongated weight structure having universal-joint connection to saidsuspension means, a rotative bit having connection to said suspension means and directionally controlled by the said weight structure acting in the manner of a plumb-bob, a pressure eratively between the weight structure and the bit for driving the latter, means for supplying pressure iluid to said motor from the top of the well, and means automatically actuated by any pull upon the suspension means greater than the weight of the assembly suspended therefrom for causing the iluid to ow into the lower portion of the well without passing through the motor.

'7. Drilling apparatus comprising suspension means adapted to be lowered in a well, a hyfluid motor interposed op' draulic bit of the rotary-drilling type mounted on the lower end of the suspension means, means for supplying iluid to the bit at drilling pressure from the top of the well, and means controllable at will and adapted to be brought into operation by simple vertical pull from the top of the well for causing the fluid on occasion to be discharged at full drilling pressure into the lower portion of the well but above the bit.

8. Drilling apparatus comprising an inertia member and a bit, a uid-actuated motor interposed operatively` between the two for oscillating the bit, the inertia member being without anchoring connection to the wall or to the top of the well and Vof such mass as to sustain solely by its inertia and with smaller amplitude of oscillation than that of the bit substantially all of the reaction force of the motor, and means controllable from the top of the well for supplying the motive fluid operatively to the motor and alternatively discharging it at full drilling pressure into the lower part of the well but above the motor.

9. Drilling apparatus comprising substantially rigid suspension means adapted to be lowered in a well, an inertia member and a full-gauge bit mounted at the lower end thereof, and power means interposed operatively between the inertia member and the bit for oscillating the bit, the inertia member being without anchoring connection to the wall or to the top of the Well and of such mass as to sustain solely by its inertia and with smaller amplitude of oscillation than that of the bit substantially all of the reaction force of the said power means.

CLYDE E. BANNISTER. 

